Multiple filament lamp socket with remotely controlled selective switch



Feb. 8, 1966 G. w. MURRAY MULTIPLE FILAMENT LAMP SOCKET WITH REMOTELYCONTROLLED SELECTIVE SWITCH Filed Feb 11, 1964 9 4 A m 4 7 I 4% 2 3 6 43 6 4 n L 2 a 4 g FIG. 4

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AT'I'ORNEY United States Patent MULTIPLE FILAMENT LAMP SOCKET WITH RE-MOTELY CONTROLLED SELECTIVE SWITCH George W. Murray, Lowellville, Ohio,assignor of onefourth to James J. Malsch, J12, Youngstown, Ghio, and

one-fifth to Paul Millan Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 343,984 1 Claim.(Cl. 200-51) This invention relates to electrical switches and moreparticularly to a magnetically operated electrical switch adapted foruse in controlling incandescent lamps having two filaments.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a magneticallyoperated electrical switch for controlling an incandescent lamp havingtwo filaments by causing one of the filaments to be energized either byitself or in addition to the other filament so as to control theincandescent lamp to provide a dim light and a bright light.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an electricalswitch for controlling an incandescent lamp having two filaments whichmay be installed in any outlet in which a standard incandescent lamphaving one filament is received and energized.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anelectrical switch for controlling an incandescent lamp having twofilaments which incorporates an electromagnetically operated indexingswitching mechanism for selectively connecting the several filaments ofthe incandescent lamp with a power source.

Astill further object of the invention is the provision of an electricalswitch for controlling an incandescent lamp having two filaments whichis relatively simple in construction, small in size and capable of beinginstalled in a remote location for actuation from a remote currentcontrolling switch; for example, in a ceiling outlet under the usualcontrol of a wall switch.

A still further object of the invention isthe provision of an electricalswitch incorporating a rotatable switching element and anelectromagnetic operated device for rotating the same upon makingandbreaking of the circuit in connection with the electricalswitch.

The electrical switch disclosed herein comprises a simple and efficientdevice which may be installed, for example, in a ceiling outlet whichnormally receives a single filament incandescent light bulb and therebyadapt that outlet to receive a double filament electric light bulb andat the same time includes a selective switching mechanism actuated by anelectromagnetic responsive device for selectively connecting the severalfilaments of the incandescent light bulb with the power sourceresponsive to the making and breaking of the supplying circuit. Thedevice is, therefor, arranged so that the two filament incandescentlight bulb controlled thereby and energized therethrough may be soconnected with the energizing circuit that either or both of thefilaments thereof are energized.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes andmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposesof the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a portion of a room showing a ceilingoutlet, a wall switch controlling a circuit thereto and the device ofthe invention inserted therein and supporting a dual filamentincandescent light bulb.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional elevation on line 22 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross section on line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizonal cross section on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seenthat a portion of an enclosure such as a room in a dwelling house hasbeen illustrated and wherein the numeral 14 indicates the ceilingthereof and the numerals 11, 11 indicate the adjacent walls of the saidroom. The ceiling 10 supports a conventional ceiling outlet fixture 12forming a screw thread socket for the reception and energization of asingle filament incandescent light bulb, such as known in the art. Thefixture 12 is connected to and controlled by a wall switch mounted onone of the walls 11 and having an operating arm 13 as will be understoodby those skilled in the art. In FIGURE 1 of the drawings, anelectricalswitch comprising a cylindrical body member generallyindicated at 14 is shown threadably engaged in the socket of the fixture12, heretofore referred to, and in turn providing a threaded aperture inits lowermost end in which a two filament incandescent light bulb 15 isshown installed.

By referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that aportion of the fixture 12 is illustrated and that it includes a circularscrew threaded receptacle 16 preferably metallic in character andconnected by means of an extension 17 and fastener 18 with a conductor19. Another conductor 20 is shown connected by a fastener 21 with asecondary conductor 22 which has a centrally located terminal relativeto the circular screw threaded member 16, heretofore referred to. Theconstruction just described will be recognized as comprising a typicalconventional incandescent bulb receiving and energizing socket in afixture.

In FIGURE 2 of the drawings cylindrical electrical switch 14 is shownhaving a vertical extension 23 thereon provided with a screw threadedmetallic member 24 threadably engaged in the socket 12. A conductor 25extends from the member 24 to a location within the electrical switch 14as defined by a chamber 26. A coil 27 of an electromagnet is mounted inthe chamber 26 and is connected with thefconductor 25. A central contact28 on the upper central portion of the extension 23 of the electricalswitch body 14 contacts the terminal on the conductor 22 heretoforereferred to and in turn is connected with a conductor 29 which extendsdownwardly into the chamber 26 and has a connection 30 thereof connectedwith the coil 27 ofthe electrical magnet heretofore referred to. i

The core of the electromagnet is indicated by the numeral 31 and it isarranged to activate a hinged metallic arm 32 which is pivoted to abracket on the side wall of the chamber 26 by a pivot 33. The oppositeend of the arm 32 is apertured and a coil spring 34 is engaged in theaperture and has its opposite end engaged in an apertured bracket 35positioned in the chamber 26 in spaced relation to the arm 32 so as tonormally bias the arm 32 downwardly and away from the core 31 of theelectromagnetic coil 27.

This construction is also illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawingswherein it will be noted the arm 32 is spaced approximately midwaybetween the opposite sides of the chamber 26 in the electrical switchbody 14 and above a transversely positioned rotatably mounted shaft 36.One wall of the electrical switch 14 defining the chamber 26 issubstantially flat and is so illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings andindicated by the numeral 37. A plurality of circumferentially spacedcontacts 38, 39 and 40 are positioned radially with respect to therotatable shaft 36 and positioned on a side wall defining a portionPaten'ted' Feb: 8 1966-.

'of the chamber 26 as best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.The contact Stiis in connection with a conductor 41 which also extendsto an oppositely disposed contact 40A positioned alongside the contact49 and at the same time establishes communication with a terminal 42 inthe lower end of the electrical switch body 14 positioned for engagementwith an annular contact ring 43 found on the outermost end of the socketportion 44 of a dual filament incandescent bulb 45, which is shown withparts broken away. A conductor 46 extends from a central terminal 47in-the end of the electrical switch body 14 to the contact 40 and thecontact 39 hereinbefore described.

The rotatable shaft 36 has a switch element 47 positioned thereonadjacent the eyeleted end of the conductor 29, heretofore described, andtogether with the same is urged by a coil spring 48 toward the side wallof the chamber 26 on which the circumferentially spaced radiallypositioned contacts 49 and 39, 4t} and 40A are located, as best seen inFIGURE 4 of the drawings. Thus, electrical energy in the conductor 29 isconveyed to the switch element 47 which is movable for engagement withthe contacts 49, 39, 4t) and 40A, as will be understood by those skilledin the art and in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings, it is showncontacting the contacts 40 and 40A so that the electrical energy willflow therefrom into the conductors 41 and 46 from whence it will bedirected to the terminals 42 and 47 respectively and thus enable bothfilaments of the dual filament incandescent bulb to be illuminatedsimultaneously.

It will be understood that when the switch element 47 is moved to as toengage the contact 39, only one of the conductors, that indicated by thenumeral 46, is energized and this in turn energizes the terminal 47 sothat only one of the filaments in the dual filament incandescent bulb isenergized, thus providing a different degree of light. By the sametoken, when the contact 38 is engaged by the switch element 47 theconductor 41 is energized along with terminal 42 andonly the other oneof the filaments of the dual filament incandescent bulb 45 is energized.Thus, three degrees of light are possible by alternately connecting oneor the other or both of the dual filaments of the bulb as the switchelement 47 revolves from one of the contacts 49, 39, 4t) and 46A to theother.

In order that this action may be automatically accomplished by makingand breaking the circuit, a lever 38 is pivoted freely by a pivot 50 toa metallic arm 32 and depends from the pivot and is provided witha-hook-like shoulder 51 positioned so that it will move verticallyadjacent one side of the rotatable shaft 36 and so as to catch and moveone of a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending arms52, 52 secured to the shaft 36 as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4 of thedrawings.

Operation In operating the device ofthe invention, it is'installed inthe socket as disclosed and a dual filament incandescent bulb isinstalled in the device as disclosed. The electrical 4. circuit to thedevice which is controlled, for example, by the Wall switch as shown-inFIGURE 1 is established whereupon the electromagnet 27 causes its core31 to attract and move the metallic arm 32 upwardly toward the same.This action causes the hook 511 on the lever 3% to engage one of thecircumferentially positioned arms 52 and rotate the rotatable shaft 36and hence cause the switch element 47 to move from one of the contacts49,

- 39, 40 and 40A to the other, whereupon one or the other or both of thefilaments in the incandescent light bulb 45 will be selectivelyenergized. Thus, the desired degree of light can be controlled by merelymoving the wall switch from off to on position which will cause thestepby-step action just described to take place in the electrical switch14 in the sequence described.

It will thus be seen that a novel and extremely simple device forcontrolling the filaments in a dual filament incandescent bulb from aremote location has been disclosed and which device meets the severalobjects of the invention, and having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is:

An electrical unit comprising a casing enclosing an electricallyenergizable coil having a fixed core piece, a metallic arm pivotedadjacent said core piece and a spring normally urging said arm away fromsaid core piece, a lever pivoted to said metallic arm having a hookformed on the free end thereof, a rotatable shaft positioned adjacentthe end of said lever, arms on said shaft arranged in circumferentiallyspaced relation and positioned adjacent said hook on said lever forengagement therewith, a switch element on said shaft rotatabletherewith, a plurality of contacts in, circumferentially spaced radiallypositioned arrangement about said shaft and adjacent said switchelement, a lamp bulb receiving socket in one end of said casingterminals in said socket, conductors extending between said terminals insaid socket and said coil and contacts, said conductors connected tosaid contacts so that rotation of said shaft and switch elementelectrically connects one or more of said contacts with said terminalsat a given time, and secondary electrical conductors extending from saidswitch element and one of said terminals in said socket to secondaryterminals, a lamp bulb socket engaging device on the other end of saidcasing, said secondary terminals being located on said lamp bulb socketengaging device.

References @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 652,151 6/1900Tirrill 200 780,678 1/1905 Meyers 315-64 X 2,174,086 9/ 1939 Hofimann200-105 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,804 12/ 1922 Great Britain.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner.

